Danny Kaye soars above a petty and ancient plot to make "On the Riviera" as enjoyable a picture as any of his earlier films. He sings funny songs, mimics famous performers, plays a dual role, and lavishes his infectious charm. Beautiful, half-clothed women parade across the screen in endless procession. The color is by Technicolor and the jokes are off-color.

The plot was first used by Maurice Chevalier on Broadway in 1934, when the title was "The Red Cat." Don Ameche made a movie of its entitled "Folies Bergere" in 1941. The gimmick is Kaye, the night-club performer, impersonating Kaye, the greatest aviator since Lindbergh. The complications involve a multi-billion franc financial deal, a beautiful, half-clothed wife (Gene Tierney), and a beautiful, half-clothed dancing partner (Corinne Calvet). The plot is so involved that it deserves no more serious attention than it gets. But even its incredibility is worked for laughs.

Kaye's wonderfully mobile face and his incredible sense of timing are still his main stock in trade. His best performances in "On the Riviera" are a clever dance-pantomime song about "Popo the Puppet," a series of doubles entendres with Miss Tierney, and the airport reception for Capitaine Henri Duran.

The pace is fast, the gags are funny, the musical numbers are adequate, and the hundreds of beautiful, half-clothed girls make an extraordinary setting for every scene.